Sweet Treats to Beat the Heat

By Casey Pukl

Nothing says summer to me quite like a fruit salad full of cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon. We thought it would be appropriate with all of the warmer weather we’ve been having lately to do a little something fun with melons! Pastry Chef, Jamie Crone, and Beverage Manager, Marc Canzoneri, have come up with two delicious treats for summer!

Before I even took a taste of this dish, I was in love with the presentation. Reminiscent of a Japanese nigiri, these little bites are adorable. This dessert is one of the lightest and most refreshing that I’ve ever tasted. The melon sorbets are light and smooth on top of a sweet and slightly tart lemon poundcake. The subtle anise flavor of tarragon gives weight to this flavor combination and creates a perfect balance.

Pastry Chef, Jamie Crone, created this elegant and simple dish by first pureeing honeydew and watermelon with a little simple syrup. She then added the mixture to an ice cream machine, and spun it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Next, Crone made a basic poundcake recipe using the basic creaming method, and then she added buttermilk and lemon zest for extra flavor.

Lastly, the tarragon cream was made by first steeping the tarragon leaves in milk. She then mixed in eggs, sugar, and cornstarch, and cooked until it thickened. She then let the mixture cool and refrigerated it until she was ready to use it.

Instructions: Put all ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake, strain, and pour into a highball glass full of ice. Garnish with melon balls and mint.

Not only is this cocktail light and refreshing, but it’s so fun to look at! With the brightly colored melon ball and mint garnish and the gorgeous orange color of the drink itself, this one is certainly visually appealing.

Beverage manager Marc Canzoneri said, “The mint in this drink adds another dimension to the melon, and the ginger really gives it a nice kick. I think it’s a really fun drink that’s great for the hotter days.”

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Be sure to come on down and give these specials a try while they last! This weekend we’ve got Floyd FX and their Pink Floyd light show, Juan Perro, comedian Paula Poundstone, and Filipino-American trailblazer Charmaine Clamor.